Category: Travel Blog

Trincomalee was the final stop on our Sri Lankan adventure and what a way to end it was! Picture perfect paradise from start to finish and the best way to look back on our time in India and Our Home before finally reminiscing on our incredible experiences in Sri Lanka.

Where to stay:

Arriving via bus from Sigiriya we jumped in a tuk tuk from the station to our home for the next few nights; Trinco Blu by Cinnamon. What a home this was, as soon as we walked through the reception we were greeted with a cool drink, a refreshing flannel and a beautiful view which was on par with some of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed in.

If we didn’t feel like we were in a movie already we sure did when we were informed that our room had been upgraded to the ultimate beach front cottage! The room was huge with such an airy feel to it. The whole place just forced you to relax and as we pulled the curtain back things just got better. Looking out was the stunning picturesque beach dotted with palm trees and a giant anchor. We could simply wake up and roll out of bed straight onto the beach!

The hotel pool was also an oasis with two restaurants to choose from including a buffet option and a fine dining experience at Crab.

What to do:

We were enormously disappointed when we were told no whales had been seen in the waters for over a week and were strongly advised not to go on a whale watching experience with such a high chance of a no show! Nevertheless we did manage to visit Pigeon Island which was an experience on par with the Great Barrier Reef in Australia!

We snorkelled through the rainbow of coral for a couple of hours and no matter how many times we’ve been snorkelling we’re always astounded at the beauty beneath the surface of the sea. Alongside the coral was an array of marine life from Nemo to Dory and all in between but that was nothing compared to what came next.

After a quick bite to eat we walked over to the other side of the island to delve into the deep blue again but this time we were told to stay close to our guide. Having snorkelled a fair few times before didn’t expect to see much we hadn’t seen before but Pigeon Island is most definitely our best ever snorkel experience!

After a few minutes of swimming we found what we were looking for; the most spectacular sea turtle we’ve ever seen! The most wonderful thing about this experience was its comfort and naturalness around us, it didn’t swim away or even towards us, it just went along with its business which made for some amazing pictures!

With all our attention locked on the turtle we didn’t even notice the other incredible sea creatures lurking just beneath us…

After some frantic pointing from our guide we finally noticed that we were surrounded by a herd of black tip reef sharks! We were terrified but amazed at the same time, especially when one of them swam towards us at a significant pace before turning away. The sheer speed of these magnificent sea creatures was amazing and even more scary given they were nearly two metres in length! We were so amazed we forgot to breathe through our snorkel at times as our jaws dropped with their awesomeness despite being underwater. We can’t think of enough superlatives to describe this amazing adventure.

Other than our boat trip, we spent our time relaxing in the hotel going between the beach and pool and throughly enjoying some time to relax.

Where to eat:

Being at Trinco Blu we were already staying in the same quarters as some of the best restaurants in Trinco. Although they weren’t cheap, you get what you pay for so we decided to treat ourselves to a night at Crab and it was delicious, however, not quite as enjoyable as our meal at The Fat Crab in Colombo but the beach side setting in Trinco was gorgeous. We also had breakfast included in our visit and loved the array of different options the buffet had to offer.

We actually spent most of our evenings eating at Tonic’s, a beach shack located just next door to our hotel. The food was super tasty and reasonably priced for its location which added up to us revisiting at least eight times in four days! Gaining an alcohol license in Sri Lanka can prove difficult but Tonic’s had a unique way of getting around that, just ask for a “strong cup of tea” and thank us later.

Our whole experience in Trinco was incredible. We absolutely loved the hotel, the food and our once in a lifetime snorkelling experience. A place to recommend? Absolutely and without doubt, we extended our stay for an extra night and if we didn’t have to catch a flight home, we’re sure we’d have stayed even longer!

We traveled to Sigiriya from Kandy via bus which was one of the better bus journeys we’ve experienced in Asia, and we always enjoy seeing a new country’s landscape despite what the bus may be like! After several hours of travelling we were wondering when and how we were going to get off the bus as there seemed to be no sign of Sigiriya or slowing down by the driver. Suddenly the bus stopped on the highway in what seemed like the middle of nowhere leaving us standing at the side of the road with all our belongings and no sense of direction. It was only when we looked up that we saw the incredible golden temple overshadowing us.

We always had the intention of returning to Dambulla once settled in our accommodation in Sigiriya but this surprise stop had saved us that extra journey. The temple itself was like much of Sri Lanka; magnificent. The giant buddha on top is as big as it sounds and there are surprisingly few tourists around giving you the time you need to explore and capture this wonderful temple. Perhaps as we wasn’t expecting to be exploring this temple there and then we were all the more excited, and it was by far our favourite temple of Sri Lanka.

Where to stay

We stayed in Sigiri Rock Side Homestay after reading several of its five star reviews on TripAdvisor. The place lived up to its reviews with the couple management team doing their utmost to making us feel welcome and comfortable.

The best place about Sigiri Rock Side Homestay was the fantastic hospitality you receive. As well as an enormous breakfast you have the offer of dinner for $5 and it is our duty to tell you that it was incredible but be warned, make sure you leave lots of room as it’s literally an endless stream of food! We would definitely recommend eating their rather than eating out if you do stay as most of the options close by offer food no better than average, and we loved sampling the many traditional Sri Lankan home cooked dishes. The rooms were really cute and cosy, with chairs outside to relax in the evenings whilst you’re surrounded by wildlife and even are visited by plenty of monkeys!

What to do

Lion Rock is voted one of the best places to visit in the whole of Sri Lanka and we were not disappointed. At $30 a ticket it’s not cheap but like with the rest of Sri Lanka; you get what you pay for. This was a heritage site that was well maintained, well guided and simply awe-provoking. The climb itself wasn’t easy but it wasn’t too difficult so you should be fine with a bottle of water and some cool clothing. We saw a number of people stop at the halfway stage but we would say that once you’re there the hard part is over so make sure you continue your ascent when you’re ready to reach the summit. Once at the top you explore the grounds of this once great fortress and are taken aback by the views of this beautiful part of planet earth! The whole experience is a once in a lifetime moment that we will never forget, we could have stayed up there for days, it was stunning.

Unfortunately we spotted no lions during our time at Lion Rock (just kiddin’ we know there aren’t any, but we enjoyed letting our minds wonder!) so next up was time for some wildlife spotting! We had intended on visiting Wilpattu National Park but time was running out for us so we did some research and found you could do a wildlife safari right here in Sigiriya at Minneriya National Park! We only found this out after speaking to the kind people at our homestay who set up our safari in the morning and by the afternoon we were standing tall on a safari jeep wading through the jungle at less that $100 dollars for the pair of us.

We were worried that our last minute change of plan was going to result in a half hearted safari but this just wasn’t the case. Climbing Lion Rock and embarking on a safari made for one of the most memorable days of our lives! An absolutely incredible experience as we came across peacocks, pelicans, eagles, giant lizards, hundreds of elephants and so much more!

We saw a few complaints on Trip Advisor saying the plains were dominated by elephants but this was perfect for us as we both love these gentle giants from our experience at Elephant Nature Park.

We watched from the roof of our private jeep as the elephants roamed free in a natural environment where they could be themselves, naturally and safely. The baby elephants rolled in the mud, the teenagers tussled and played while the elder statesmen ate their own body weight in food! An absolutely magnificent day with nothing but fond memories and awesome photos for us to look back on with.

In case you haven’t got the drift by now we absolutely loved Sigiriya as we seemed to be falling in love with all of Sri Lanka. Next on our trip was Trinco and surely it couldn’t get any better, could it?

Travelling to Kandy from Colombo was our first time using public transport in Sri Lanka and after spending so long travelling India we were pretty sure we knew what to expect but it’s always daunting the first time you travel in a new country.

Clock Inn were really helpful with our planning and said we didn’t even need to prebook train tickets, which we found hard to believe! Following their advice we got to Colombo train station, purchased our tickets and boarded the train with no problems at all which was a pleasant surprise. Although we bought second class tickets we had to sit in third class due to a lack of seats but this wasn’t a problem and we couldn’t really tell the difference between the classes. The journey itself took just over four hours and it was beautiful as we left behind the bustling city and headed for the mountains. It felt so much easier than travelling by train in India and we also met the kindest lady who bought us some peanuts even though she didn’t speak a word of English!

Kandy itself is the second largest Sri Lankan city and a lot of travellers use it to explore surrounding areas. We booked the Kandy day trip with ‘Perry’ via Clock Inn at 2500lkr for both of us and although it was a bit more expensive than what the local tuc tuc drivers offer we still had a great day and couldn’t fault the service.

First stop on the tour was the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage, however we decided to skip this due to the controversial stories of the elephant welfare and Perry very kindly instead took us to an additional three temples which were off the beaten track, away from the tourists and very sacred. One of them actually appears on the 500 rupee note!

Another stop on the tour included a tea factory and plantation which was great. Although we’ve visited the tea plantations in Munnar this was just as good and really informative. The local girls presenting the tour were excellent and the tea sample with the honey sugar cubes was delicious!

We requested to stop off at a spice plantation as believe it or not it’s something we’ve never done before. Again it was really interesting and we thoroughly enjoyed it, the highlight being the rare baby pineapple plants which were the cutest things ever. We wanted to take them home but we’re not sure customs would have allowed that!

We decided to skip the Botanical Gardens as at 1500 rupees each we didn’t think we would make the most out of it, being 147 acres in size there was no way we would get around them quickly!

The Big Buddha was the highlight of our trip, the giant white statue towers over the entire city and we were surprised that when we arrived there weren’t many tourists so we could enjoy the peaceful temple and beautiful views to ourselves. Unfortunately we can’t say the same the the Temple of the Tooth which we were quite disappointed with. Of course if you’re visiting Kandy this is probably number one on your to-do list but for us it was very underwhelming. The tooth only comes out once every five years and the temple itself wasn’t as spectacular as many others we’ve seen.

In Kandy we found a couple of great eateries including Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar, also known as the Bamboo Garden to the locals, which served up delicious Chinese food, beers and cocktails and even showed the football to K’s delight. It had such a relaxed vibe and offered incredible views of the city so it’s definitely worth a visit. Our other favourite was Buono, not really a dinner option but it’s excellent to grab a drink and a snack. It’s so tiny and really hidden away but had a lovely atmosphere and offers fab milkshakes, cakes and three varieties of burgers which were actually quite good! It was a funny little place and somewhere the local uni students used as their hang out, a good way to experience a bit of the young Kandy culture.

Unfortunately during our time in Kandy we both came down with the Sri Lankan ‘Delhi Belly’ and therefore didn’t get to do as much as we wanted, including a trip to Adam’s Peak. We did however research this thoroughly and many travellers either use Kandy as a hub to do day trips to the surrounding areas including Dambulla and Sigiriya or you can use it as a short stop on the way to your next destination which is what we did. It’s a really friendly little city and we loved the cleanliness, people and the sights it had to offer.

Would you believe until a few months ago despite having travelled all over India in 2015 we had never heard of Hampi! It wasn’t until we met at group of guys travelling India by bike at Our Home that we were recommended to visit. It was only then that we started seeing Hampi pop up all over the place online and on various travel blogs, so we decided we had to go!

Where to stay

We spent quite a lot of time browsing online to find the right accommodation. There seemed to be two options; very cheap or very expensive. Neither of these were what we wanted and it appeared that the only mid-range hotel at £25 per night was Clarks Inn, little did we know when we booked this place what a gem we had found. In prime location we were warmly greeted by friendly, confident and efficient staff, often quite hard to find in India unless you are staying in a luxury hotel. The room was great with lots of space, high ceilings, clean white walls and white bed sheets (a favourite of ours!) with good air con, a TV and spacious bathroom. The only downside was that the wifi didn’t quite reach our room but we couldn’t complain with such comfortable surroundings and so much to do in Hampi. The hotel also had a lovely swimming pool which was an added bonus and absolutely perfect after a long day exploring the local ruins and the onsite restaurant also served up good food either in the pleasant restaurant or as room service. We really couldn’t recommended this hotel highly enough.

What to do

There are a few options to explore Hampi including by bike/scooter, push bike, tuctuc and taxi. Anyone that chooses the push bike option deserves a medal as in 40+ degrees we wouldn’t even attempt it! Being completely honest we rushed into a decision a bit and when our hotel offered a luxury AC car for the day at only 1500 rupees we jumped at the chance. This is very cheap for a day tour in such good transport but we’re sure a tuc tuc would have been much cheaper and just as good so you should shop around first!

The tour will see you cover most of Hampi and you will quickly see what a fascinating place it is. We won’t go into too much detail as we don’t want to spoil the surprises you have in store but a few of our favourite spots included Hemakuta Temple Hill which offered fantastic views and takes you away from the tourists. Sasivekalu Ganesha is an impressively large statue of Ganesh and there are plenty more beautiful temples to see with each as impressively ancient as the next with probably too many to list! The Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables, Guards Quarters and Queens Bath are just a few and each one is stunningly interesting in its own way.

The bazaar is located just next to Virupaksha Achyutaraya Temple and is a backpacker’s paradise. Full of handmade products, elephant pants, slogan t-shirts and plenty of eateries this place is a must visit. We also noticed that it’s surprisingly cheap so we would recommend not bargaining too hard here, remember that extra 20p to you can be a lot to the locals.

Now obviously it depends on what side of the river you are staying on but for us over the river was the other side of the main temples and bazaar. We had read that ordinarily you can catch a boat over for very little, however, we were surprised and saddened to see that the water was so shallow due to the drought we could simply walk right over. We initially thought we may get a tuc tuc to see the sights on the other side but soon realised this wasn’t the thing to do. We hired a scooter for 300 rupees and it was so relaxed, as long as you returned it in good condition! We recommend you go on a long drive past the lake and take in the gorgeous views. There are also quite a few temples to see but none better than Hanuman Temple. We made the mistake of climbing up at midday but if you set off early the climb shouldn’t be too hard. Although the temple hasn’t got that much of a wow factor, the views you’re rewarded with make it so worthwhile.

Where to eat

There are plenty of places to eat around Hampi and we will start with our hotel. Even if you’re not staying in Clarks Inn we would recommend paying them a visit for dinner. The restaurant is really nice and is a welcome break from all of the backpacker places if you fancy something different and the food is good with reasonable prices.

In the Bazaar we originally wanted to try Funky Monkey but was closed so we opted for the highly recommended Mango Tree and we can certainly say it lived up to expectations! We both went for a pizza each and finished the lot. They were as good as a pizza can be in India and we also noticed lots of people ordering the Indian dishes and they also looked and smelt great!

Over the river you can get beers nice and easily which is always a bonus in India. We followed the signs to The White Elephant but ended up eating in a place just opposite as it was a lot busier. Unfortunately we had to wait over an hour for the food which was just above average, so although we didn’t try it, we would suggest sticking to The White Elephant!

Our time in Hampi was unexpectedly brilliant. We didn’t know what we were going to find and were so happy with our few days exploring this ancient city and enjoying our accommodation. It is now up there with one of our favourite places in India so if you’re travelling south you can’t miss it!

During our two weeks exploring Sri Lanka we’ve chosen to do a mix of luxury and budget accommodation to get a feel of what Sri Lanka has to offer for a range of travellers.

Being a travel couple dorm rooms aren’t ideal for us therefore when we came across Clock Inn Hostel it seemed the perfect budget accommodation as it also offered double private rooms.

We booked to stay at Clock Inn Colombo for one night when we arrived as well as three nights in Kandy. We knew we had chosen the right hostel even before we set foot in the country having had several email correspondences with the management who so helpfully assisted with our route planning and very kindly booked our airport transfers. Everything you can hope for when planning to visit a new place!

Clock Inn Colombo offers budget conscious backpackers clean, cozy and well equipped private bedrooms and dorm rooms. Despite the fact we arrived at 4am we were greeted so warmly in the cutest reception space full of bright colours and quirky decor. Our room had a large bed (just what we needed after four hour flight delays!) AC, cable TV, towels, toiletries, bottled water and a hot shower! To most backpackers this sounds like a fantasy but trust us it’s real! After a couple of hours sleep we enjoyed our free breakfast which consisted of eggs cooked to your preference, bread/toast, cereal and fruit, accompanied with fruit juice and tea/coffee (which is free all day). Our stay at Clock Inn Colombo was the perfect welcome to the city.

After a few days exploring we booked a train to Kandy. Located right in the centre, Clock Inn Kandy is within walking distance to most of the local attractions. As with the branch in Colombo, our private room was great and featured all of the same excellent amenities and even offered use of the MAC computer in reception. Although we didn’t have much time to use the common area it looked fab, clean and full of games, DVDs and books.

If you’re looking for something different they also offer quirky little capsules which we’ve never seen anywhere else before! Perfect for solo, budget backpackers who occasionally need their own space.

All in all our stay at both Clock Inns were faultless and we couldn’t recommend them enough! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Visiting Bangalore was a strange place for us as it came immediately after leaving Our Home Community. Once we did finally manage to wipe away our tears and venture out of our hotel room we soon discovered we were in what could become one of our favourite Indian cities! Please forgive our lack of photos in this blog, we felt we just needed a few days away from smiley snaps and social media!

Where not to stay:

We booked to stay at Treebo Edge and being a business city, accommodation wasn’t cheap to come by and the location of this particular Treebo caught our attention.

The hotel was a short walk away from the grand UB City Mall and this was fantastic but unfortunately this is where the positives ended.

The room was small and stuffy with no windows. The staff were not helpful at all and borderline incompetent, we aren’t the most difficult travellers to please but the staff found it difficult to answer the simplest of questions.

The walls were wafer thin so you heard every conversation from the reception to the guests next door and all in between. The food was mediocre at best (that’s being generous) and we had to argue to get access to the wifi! All together Treebo Edge in Bangalore is a big no no.

What to do:

Bangalore is one of the biggest cities in India but unfortunately we only had two nights to explore and most of our time was spent in the luxurious UB City mall and comfort eating! The whole layout of the place is exceptional and exudes class, we would suggest you leave the elephant pants behind for this outing and it’s by no means a cheap place to shop but even if you go for a walk and a beer you will enjoy your experience. Our top tip would be to save your ventures to UB City for the evenings and take advantage of the many happy hours on offer at the local bars during the day. Bootlegger was our preferred choice and we’d definitely recommend giving it a visit.

Where to eat:

Once again UB City was our saviour from the disappointment that awaited us at Treebo Edge. There is an abundance of incredible restaurants to choose from on the outside terrace and we decided to give Sanchez a try after being lured in by the scent of fresh fajitas!

Sanchez was reasonably priced considering its setting and the food itself was delicious. The staff were exceptional and it was the perfect pick me up as we drank our sorrows away in the Mexican surroundings.

Shiro was especially busy and no wonder as the setting was one of a Japanese paradise with the dark shades contrasting with the giant Buddha as the white elephant in the bamboo enclosed room. We managed to get a seat on one of the sofas in the main restaurant but we would avoid waiting at the rooftop bar in the sweltering summer nights despite the soothing sounds of live acoustic music.

Cafe Mojo on St.Marks road was another great find. From the outside it doesn’t look the most appealing and you have to go up a set of stairs before reaching the restaurant, but when you enter you are immediately relieved! Goan themed this hidden gem wasn’t as busy as it should have been. Excellent service, cheap but delicious food and drinks with a good atmosphere. If you’re looking for a budget night out then this is your place.

Finally if you’re an ice-cream lover make sure you take a break from the scorching city heat and visit Fava. The most incredible menu of luxury ice cream for such reasonable prices!

We can’t really say we explored Bangalore as we missed out on many of the top things to do due to a lack of time. However we weren’t there for a long time, we were there for a good time and that’s just what we had.✌🏽

It’s taken us a while to write this blog … we’ve been coming to terms with leaving Our Home and the last week was so emotional we’ve not known how to put it into words. However, having cried out all our tears and spoken to the children numerous times since leaving, we’re now ready to share our experience with you.

The week was a beautiful one, filled with so many wonderful memories makers. We went on plenty of walks where the children picked us lovely flowers to “take back to England.” K enjoyed his last few football matches with the older boys, we sang songs and recapped over the amaxing few months we spent together. We took more photos and promised the children as soon as we returned to England we will print and send them as we did last time which gave them something exciting to look forward to.

The children had many heart wrenching questions for us “when are you coming back?” “why can’t you live here?” “Do the airports check your bags? I was thinking I could sneak in and come to England with you.” It truly was so tough and we were just as upset as them, if not more. All we could do was reassure them that we would be back and told them that not a day will go by that we won’t think about them and that we will write, phone and do everything we can to stay in touch. It felt different leaving this time to before. It wasn’t just an orphanage where we volunteered at, it was family we were leaving. Our little bedroom became our home and we packed our bags whilst listening to music from the last few months that we had shared with the children… which probably didn’t help!

To make things just a tad more difficult during the last few days there was absolutely no water or electricity. It was a really hard few days both physically and emotionally and the children needed a treat. We wanted to make our last evening as fun as possible and luckily during the afternoon the electricity and water finally came back. We brought some speakers to the dining hall to play music and H’s nan and granddad very kindly sponsored chicken biryani for dinner, the kids favourite! Although it was lovely evening enjoyed by all, we couldn’t get away from the feeling that we were leaving tomorrow, it felt very surreal.

When the morning came around we woke up so heartbroken that our incredible journey at Our Home had come to an end. One of the boys was awake already at 5am and had come to our room to help us finish packing. That started the tears off and once they started they wouldn’t stop! It was by far the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do. Every single child woke up extra early to see us off and greeted us with letters, flowers and drawings. We said goodbye to each and every one of them although we could barely speak we were so upset. So much for keeping it together and being strong! We were so sad as as our car drove away and all of the kids stood looking on.

We did however leave feeling content that we achieved more than what we originally came to do, not only teaching and helping with day to day duties but building relationships and bonds with the children that can never be broken. They all know that we will ALWAYS be there to support them and we will visit as much as we can, although it’s the end of this trip it is just the start for our future with them. We’ve made the best memories and together experienced not only the fun, laughter and love but we’ve also endured the rawness, truthfulness, tears, emotions and overcome so many firsts. In the words of the children:

“You going time you no cry, you going time you happy only” … Until next time Our Home.

The summer holidays are well underway and the children are used to their new daily routines without school, breakfast is a also a little later now which we must admit we’re enjoying and there’s lots of spring cleaning going on in the bedrooms!

The days seem a lot longer and we’re trying to think of different activities we can do each day to keep the kids entertained. Something we hadn’t thought of until now was downloading a film on our IPad. We bought some popcorn and arranged two screenings of our makeshift movie day, one for the girls and one for the boys. “Happy Feet” was our film of choice and first up was the boys. As they all crowded round to watch the small screen they were super excited for an English cartoon movie, we couldn’t believe how they all managed to slot themselves into positions to be able to see. We were buried in amongst them and after just 15 minutes we were literally melting due to the heat. We didn’t dare move though as the boys were all so comfortable and enjoying the film, laughing so much their stomachs were hurting!

As always the girls were a lot more organised and balanced the iPad on a chair that they could all sit around to see. Their reactions to the film was much different to the boys and they loved the cute baby penguins and love story going on, some tears were even shed at the emotional scenes! Next time we return to Our Home we will come equipped with more movies for them, we really enjoy giving them some new experiences, and when it’s 40 degrees outside with no water, there’s not much else for them to do!

The hot topic for this week was the upcoming “Tour” to Kannur Beach. We decided to take the kids on a day trip to the beach and hired a big tourist bus for the 7th April. Leading up to the day they couldn’t stop planning, from what they were going to wear, what time they were waking up and who they were going to sit next to on the bus. When it finally came around the day itself was incredible, we made the most beautiful memories and being many of the kids’ first time to the beach it was also really emotional.

The next big day, 10th April, soon approached which was when the children were getting their exam results and I think we were more anxious than them! We woke up early that morning and went down to the school and were greeted with The BEST news ever. The longs days teaching and evenings spent on one to one homework classes have paid off as every single child at Our Home Community passed their exams and are moving up to their next year studying. Previously children have been held back one if not two years for not passing their exams. Surya was particularly overjoyed having been one of the children held back, he has now finished with the highest marks in his class! The smiles say it all and we’re so proud of all of the girls and boys for working so hard with us.

This week Our Home had a group of German volunteers visiting and unfortunately this meant we had to vacate our little bedroom so they could all stay together. However, this did mean that we could stay in a local hotel only a short walk away from Our Home and to be honest the AC and warm water was a welcome change! We also used the opportunity to give the boys and girls some little day trips and took a few of them each day during our stay to explore the hotel grounds, order some french fries, fresh juice and relax in a different environment for a few hours.

As our time at Our Home is coming to an end we’re making the most of every single second with the children. Its been another two weeks that have flown passed, filled with emotion, joy, day trips and certainly one of the best school summer holidays for us too!

Ooty, known as Queen of the Hills is famous for its cooler weather and beautiful views. We’ve visited twice and both of our trips have been a unique experience for us as we have friends there who warmly welcome us into there home. This meant a break from Trip Advisor reviews for the best hotel deals and instead we could focus on the really important stuff … exploring!

We recently stayed in Ooty during the Easter weekend so it was significantly busier than usual but what a wonderful weekend it was. First stop was Ooty Lake as we took a tuk tuk through the hills on a sprightly sunny day towards the still waters.

We hired a pedal boat for an hour and once pulling away from the first time boaters and upon reaching the far end of the lake we felt an overwhelming sense of serenity as we took in the beautiful views. The only thing missing was a cool beer to go with that sea breeze, or lake breeze as it were in this case. It is 160 rupees for a 2 seater boat for 30 minutes, you’re also required to leave a depsosit, which you can claim back if you’re within your time.

The whole area around the lake is full of great little food stalls and you can’t visit without stopping for a spring potato. Although the shops and stalls detract from what the lake once was it is still kept clean and in good taste, and we actually quite enjoyed the holidaymaker feel it has to it.

The Botanical Gardens were next on our list of places to visit however they were full of picnic goers. There was little room to sit and relax until getting to the high end of the hills so we would recommend going at a less busy time than Easter weekend! This wasn’t a problem for us though as we enjoyed strolling through this picture of natural beauty.

Dodbetta view point is situated just outside of Ooty but was recommended to us as a must see so we gave it a go. Travelling up through the mountains we bumped into a giant wild dear crossing the road. The tuk tuk driver screamed at us to take a photo as they are extremely rare to see in Ooty but unfortunately the best we got was strictly rear end focussed!

Once again the downside to our experience was the sheer number of tourists taking a break from their busy lives during the Easter weekend. After walking through a parade of stalls selling everything from hats and scarves to permanent tattoos we reached the summit. The view itself was good but not great and unfortunately there was just far too much litter scattered around. We’re sure this place is usually kept neat and litter free but the volume of people meant the authorities could not enforce rules as usual. We would still recommend you visit it if you have time but try a weekday instead!

If you want to know the real Ooty we would suggest taking a walk into the town, meeting the people and exploring the homemade chocolate shops. Being much cooler than most places in India you can enjoy a stroll through the streets without the hassle of the unrelenting heat.

Back in 2015 during our first trip we also took a ride on the Toy Train. If you have time we would definitely recommend it, the slow speed and gorgeous views really allow you some time to relax, however make sure you book tickets in advance as the train gets full pretty quickly. Somewhere else we were lucky enough to have dinner at was The Ooty Club, rumour has it that this is where snooker was first invented! When you step into the club it is like going back in time and you are completely in awe everywhere you look. Unfortunately you can only enter with a member so if you want to visit, we suggest you make some very good friends!

We love Ooty for its climate and uniqueness. Although situated in the heart of India the heritage of once being ruled by the British East India Company is still evident to its core and that blend of British/India is balanced just right in this uniquely mountainous town.

Mysore is one of those places in India where you just feel welcome. Let’s not forget that India isn’t for everyone but there is a slight chance that Mysore might just be. Being voted the cleanest Indian city for two years in a row definitely has something to do with that!

Where to stay:

We’ve stayed at Hotel Aditya a few times now and we’re never let down. The location is perfect as it is within walking distance of the Mysore Palace and Devaraja Market while also being opposite More. More is like finding a needle in a haystack in India as it’s a supermarket that sells beer! Hotel Aditya is a 10 minute tuctuc ride from the KSRTC bus station which makes coming and going very easy. The staff are helpful, the rooms are decent for a reasonable price and they have cable TV, wifi, and free breakfast! Just what you need if you’ve been backpacking in hostels.

What to do:

If you want to see India in all of its glory then Devaraja Market is the place to be. From Holi paints and flowers to gem stones and exotic oils, you can find virtually anything at this market once you’ve shifted through the furore of people, cows, dogs and stalls outside, a great place to get those insta pics.

Chamundi Hill is a great spot to get a view of the whole city, especially at sunset or sunrise. The sunlight reflects across the whole city and it feels like you’re sitting on the edge of Pride Rock. Take the 201 bus to the peak and for a few extra rupees we suggest you wait it out for the air con bus which is a lot less busy and much more comfortable. Once reaching the top follow the steps to find yourself a secluded spot and the view will speak for itself.

If you have some spare time the Mysore sand museum is a good place to visit with some awesome sculptures for only 40 rupees per person. It’s located just a few minutes’ drive from the Mall of Mysore and features some amazing artworks based on religion, history and Disney!

The Mall of Mysore is a basic mall, but offers some tasty treats, a good supermarket and a cinema with English movies.

Finally, Mysore Palace is what you visit this city for, built in 1912 it is incredibly well maintained and attracts six million people a year. If you want to get the full experience make sure you explore the inside of the palace to experience life as a Maharaja in India. If you’re just there to get some snaps then avoid paying the full entrance fee and wander the grounds leisurely with a picnic but we wouldn’t recommend going in the middle of the day unless you want to remember your experience with some semi-permanent sunburn! Everyday except Sundays the Palace holds a sound and light programme between 7pm & 8pm where you can see the palace illuminated in all its glory.

Where to eat:

Having been in India for over three months were always on the lookout for our next western meal so hearing of a dominos, KFC and McDonald’s was music to our ears. We know this isn’t the most cultural thing to do but what says India more than a Maharaja Mac?!

There is also a great little pizza place by the name of Sadananda’s Wood Fired Pizza within walking distance of Hotel Aditya. It doesn’t look the busiest or the most appealing place to eat but looks can be deceiving and we can’t recommend this place highly enough.

Mysore is a wonderful Indian city with some much needed home comforts. If you just come along for the palace and a Maharaja Mac it will be a day well spent but as with the rest of India there’s something special about this city with plenty to see and do.